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The no-testing doesn't really give someone in the trade a ton of confidence, especially if Double Check Valve Assemblies are used. Who knows what's going on inside those things? At least a properly-installed PVB puts gravity on your side.

Well, to those of you who have no testing requirements you should feel lucky. If you don't have to test the assemblies just take out the guts and internal parts and the backflow will never spew water. But remember the whole point of backflow is to protect the drinking water not worry about cheap prices on backflow parts.

Even the 'indestructible' Rainbird PVB (old Watts model) would need a washer sooner or later.

There are really two diverging ways to look at backflow. One is the more rigorous pass/fail record when testing backflows, and the second is whether the device starts spewing water. In locales without any testing requirements, it's the "spews water" aspect that homeowners would worry about, since they aren't worried about testing.

Febco prices their repair parts pretty high. I've seen mailings from third-party vendors with their own bonnets and such for Febco. I like the Wilkins 720 PVB better than Febco. Not sure how many other brands still have brass bonnets, like the 720, and the older Watts (sold as Rainbird)